The Pittsburgh Steelers placed center Fernando Velasco, who was injured Thursday night in the 22-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, on injured reserve Saturday.

Velasco suffered an Achilles injury late in the game and the injury must be more serious than first believed. Velasco was in a walking boot after the game.

The Steelers signed center Eric Olsen and tackle Rashad Butler to the roster on Saturday and released cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.

With Velasco now out for the season, Cody Wallace will more than likely now be the starter.

Velasco was a blessing this season for the Steelers as he filled in admirable for Maurkice Pouncey after he was lost for the season just eight plays into the season opener.

Olsen was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He was waived by the New Orleans Saints earlier this season with an injury settlement after originally being placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.

Butler was most recently a member of the Cleveland Browns and was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Miami. In addition to the Panthers and the Browns, Butler spent five seasons with the Houston Texans. He has appeared in 51 total games during his career and started four.

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Damn, but a good thing the Steelers have Wallace now. If they would have had only Beachum as a center-capable backup, it would push Mike Adams back in. And by now Wallace should know the line calls. I still hope Velasco is back next year, and maybe that increased that chance of it happening by lowering is price for next season.

Mike Uhl

Well this will be an interesting end of the season.

JohnnyV1

Ouch! He was playing pretty decent football the last few games. Find it odd that they did not sign OC/OG John Melecki, unless he’s signed somewhere else, or has moved on. He knows the offense.

Rubem Dornas

Now I miss Legursky.

T R

Guess someone should have warned velasco about co I g her to play on OL. He was guaranteed to get hurt.

Lamarr56

Damn, that is a big blow. I wonder if Wallace can actually hold his own against starting lineman.

Douglas Andrews

Tough injury for Velasco he was a good pickup. Hope Wallace can give us something. Man we can’t win for losing literally.

James Kling

Well, shit.

alevin16

Up until now I held out hope this season would be like the 1989 season where everything went right for the Steelers (including a downpour when they played the Dolphins beating Dan Marino, and a final Monday night game where the Vikings pulled off the upset over the Bengals), but I am starting to believe we are cursed. Did Russ Grimm put a spell on us? Is Heinz Field build on an ancient Offensive Lineman burial ground? AAAARRRRGGGG

Mike.H

Ravens game makes about the 4th game we could’ve won due to “mental mistakes”.

Sometimes I wonder how focused this bunch of guys are from the 2013 roster. Sigh… SMH

Busforever

Yeah, yeah, just another season with a heavily injured Steelers offensive line…

Mike.H

I saw a play where Ace Queen Poker hands Shipley blocked out Jarvis Jones I think in the middle. Short arms or not, he did his job.

Elijah Stevenson

It amazes me how even though we had a replacement center the OL still held in strong protecting Ben from suggs and the DL but Ben still couldn’t get the job done (first half wise)

Andrew Grigsby

What a horrible loss. He had played so well since they signed him. Ohh boy its unreal the injures yr. after yr. this OL takes.

Rubem Dornas

At least we can better know and develop those guys who will substitute the injured ones. Maybe we discover some cheap talent instead of spending high draft positions.

Shea Fahr

Why?? They let Legs go to keep Malecki and after Malecki made the 53, let him go because they felt Wallace was better than either one.

Rubem Dornas

I really doubt that Malecki and Wallace are better than him. Also, Legurski has much more NFL experience than both Malecki and Wallace and knows better the offensive system than them. Just my opinion.

HopalongCassidy

????

Gerardo Herrero Morales

Fernando has been HUGE, must return next year! Thanks for your admirable performance! BTW Ngata did a cheap hit.

CrazyTerry

Funny how Velasco’s replacement is out for the season in TN though he was benched anyway in favor of TN’s rookie center. Velasco was a damn lifesaver. They need to bring him back next year. But what is it about Steelers OLs that even a guy with no injury history gets injured here while Colon is sitll healthy in NY.

William Bigelow

Couldn’t have said it better ….

Kevin Gobleck

where is john maleki???

STEELTRON

WHERE IS MAX

STEELTRON

FROM THE COUCH TO THE PLAYOFFS LOL

STEELTRON

HE HAS HEART

joed32

Nowhere.

joed32

Also nowhere.

awlcohen

What happen to the research the FO was going to do into PS injuries and if they were acceptable/the norm vs. simply bad luck. At this point, pretty hard to argue it is just bad luck.

I’d be shocked if the FO did much if anything on the topic, just found a few other teams that had as any injuries, shrugged their shoulders and concluded “were not the only ones.” Classic case of seeking a conclusion without even doing an analysis.

cencalsteeler

How many players has Ngata rolled on causing injury? It seems at the end of the game when Suggs was finally getting to Ben, I noticed he grabs at the legs and rolls his body causing Bens legs to twist. Curious if Ravens players are getting away with something there or am I reading into this too much. When the dust settles after each matchup, it seems we come out with more injuries then they do, especially around the line where these rolls and twists occurs.

Kevin Gobleck

maybe we end up with Beachum at C and see if Adams if better at LT now if wallace is a bust